Valve-operating mechanism.



W. HEAP.

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILLED FEB. 11, 1910.

1,063,444. Patented June 3, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsKmu1'9N. D. C.

wunodvml UNITE %ATFE PATENT Fidltfii WILLIAM HEAP, 0F GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM I-IEAP & SONS, OF GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN, A FIRM.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

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Application filed February 11, 1910.

b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM I-IEAP, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Haven, in the -count-y of Ottawa and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates particularly to an operating or control mechanism for the flushing valves of closet tanks, especlally of the low-down type, and itconsists in the simple and inexpensive construction thereof, in the peculiar arrangement and combination of parts whereby the installation may be readily and quickly effected, and in certain details of construction, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closet and tank of the lowdown type; Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the parts of the control mechanism, detached; Fig. 3 is a view of the interior of the tank, showing the valve and control mechanism in elevation; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the control mechanism assembled.

In the drawings thus briefly described, A represents a flushing tank, upon the inner surface of the front wall B of which the operating mechanism is adapted to be arranged. The tank is provided with the usual outlet C, with which the waste or flushing pipe C connects.

D is the flushing valve, and E its seat.

Extending through an opening in the front wall of the tank is arranged a stub shaft F, upon the outer end of which is se cured a suitable handle G and upon the inner end a crank arm H carrying at its extremity a wrist pin 1. Fixed upon the inner surface of the front wall of the tank, and at a distance from the crank arm, is an elongated pivot pin or rod J.

K represents the valve operating lever, preferably of the angle shaped type, comprising a main section a ext-ending widthwise of the tank, an ofiset 7) projecting sub stantially vertically from the main section, a bearing section d projecting transversely from the offset Z) and bent outwardly to form the section 6 which terminates in a second bearing portion b parallel with and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Serial No. 543,325.

spaced from the section d, and an outwardly-extending section 0 having its extremity apertured as at (Z.

6 and b are apertures formed in the bearing portions and b respectively, and adapted to engage the pivot J, the latterpreferably extending beyond the sleeve a slight distance, and having its projecting portion apertured as at e to permit of the insertion of a suitable pin for holding the parts in place, and L is a link pin positioned upon the angle shaped lever at the junction of its arms, as shown.

0 designates the link adapted to engage the pins L and I, and acting to unite the crank arm with the angle shaped lever, and P is a connection in the form of a lift wire or rod between the section 0 of the angle shaped lever and the stem Q of the valve D.

The parts of the operating mechanism when assembled are normally in the position indicated in Fig. 3, with the handle Gr depending vertically, as shown. Movement of the handle in either direction causes, through its connections with the valve operating lever, the raising of the main section a thereof, and the consequent lifting of the flushing valve, permitting the discharge of the tank contents.

To permit the handle G of the apparatus todepend in the desired vertical position, I preferably counterbalance the crank arm H to offset its weight and the weight of the link. The counterbalance is in the form of an oppositely-projecting arm portion R, carrying preferably a weight S; also, for limiting the raising movement of the valve and for preventing the valve-operating handle upon actuation from striking the top of the flushing tank, a stop T is provided in the form of a pin adjoining the pivot J, against which the section a of the bell-crank is adapted to strike. In many instances, the flushing valve employed is in the form of a glass flush float, which is considerably heavier than the ordinary flushing valve. To offset this, I provide a counterweight Q adj ustably mounted upon an arm Q which projects rearwardly from the section 5 It is the usual practice among manufacturers, to ship the tanks with the parts of the operating mechanism detached, necessitating upon installation the assembling of the parts, and the positioning of the valve lever fulcrum or pin on the tank interior.

With the constructions of operating mechanism heretofore employed, usually only one point upon the tank is suitable for the pivot in order to allow the operation of the various parts. Consequently in the installation considerable time and labor is involved in locating the position of the pivot. In the valve-operating mechanism described, I have obviated this difficulty, the construction being such that the valve pivot may be at once properly positioned upon the tank wall, and further at any desired distance from the tank top. This may be effected in the following manner: Before fixing the pivot J to the tank, the parts are assembled and brought into the relative position indicated in Fig. 3, with the main portion a of the valve operating lever, the link and the crank arm in alinement. By rotating the parts about the shaft F as a center, and maintain ing the alinement, an are, as U, may be described upon the wall of the tank, at any point of which the pivot may be located to allow of the operation of the mechanism. After the pivot has been fixed in place, the lift wire P may be easily bent to form the proper connection between the lever and valve.

What I claim as my invention is,-

1. In closet flushing apparatus, the combination with the tank, of the flushing valve therein, a rotatable arm, an elongated fixed pivot pin or rod, a valve operating lever formed With an ofi'set, spaced bearing portions carried by the offset and engaging the pivot, and a link connection between the rotary arm and lever at substantially the junction of the offset.

2. In closet flushing apparatus, the combination with the tank, of the flushing valve, a rotatable arm pivoted upon the Wall'of the tank, a fixed pivot pin, a lever engaging said pivot pin and formed with an offset portion on the side of the pivot opposite the rotatable arm, a connection between the lever and valve, and an operative connection between the-arm and lever at substantially the junction of the offset portion.

3. In closet flushing apparatus, the com- I bination with a tank, of the flushing valve therein, a rotatable arm pivoted upon the wall of the tank, an elongated fixed pivot pin, a valve operating lever formed with an oft-set portion, spaced bearing portions carried by the off-set engaging the pivot, a link connecting said lever and arm, its connec tion with the lever being substantially at the junction of the. ofiset portion and on the side of the pivot opposite the connection between the link and arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HEAP. Witnesses ADDIE GRANT J. R. G. MIMiETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

